Diagnostic ultrasound system

ABSTRACT

A diagnostic ultrasound system is provided for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissue scans an ultrasonic pulse signal along a tomographic plane to acquire an electrical echo signal, extracts a Doppler signal from the echo signal, calculates velocity data concerning the motion of the tissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane on the basis of the Doppler signal, and forms data of a B-mode tomographic image on the basis of the echo signal. The system comprises an element for setting a scale along which each of the velocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of the Doppler signal is assigned to each gradation data for color display, the measurable band of frequencies being limited by a pulse repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a given low-velocity band of the measurable frequency band being enhanced in the gradation data than a remaining velocity band of the measurable band, an element for converting the velocity data into the gradation data according to the scale, an element for blanking either one of the converted gradation data and the calculated velocity data at every sample point when each of them exceeds a specified threshold, and an element for displaying the velocity color image subjected to blanking and superimposed on the B-mode tomographic image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to diagnostic ultrasound system, or moreparticularly, to a diagnostic ultrasound system adaptable to tissueDoppler imaging based on an ultrasonic pulsed-wave Doppler technique.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past, a diagnostic ultrasound system having a tissue Dopplerimaging (TDI) feature has been disclosed, for example, in JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 6-114059 (of which title of the invention is an“ultrasound color Doppler tomography system”) proposed by the presentapplicant. The diagnostic ultrasound system described in the unexaminedpatent publication has a feature that uses a pulsed-wave Dopplertechnique and a lowpass filter to detect the motion velocities oftissues including the cardiac muscle and vascular wall, compute variousphysical volumes relevant to motion on the basis of the motionvelocities, and display the results of computation in appropriate modesin color. For detecting the motion velocity of a tissue, since themotion velocity of a tissue is markedly lower than a blood flowvelocity, the pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) of transmittedultrasonic pulsed waves (rate pulses) are lowered to enable measurementof super-low motion velocities of tissues.

Various modes are available for color display of the results ofcomputation. In the invention described in the unexamined patentpublication, two-dimensional color display has been proposed. As for thegradations for the color display, a procedure used for the blood flowimaging, which is implemented in a color Doppler system and sharesconcepts with tissue Doppler imaging, can be employed.

In the blood flow imaging, a band of Doppler shift frequencies fdranging from −fr/2 to fr/2 (where, fr denotes a pulse repetitionfrequency of an ultrasonic pulsed wave) is rendered, as shown in FIG.27, in 32 gradation (gray-scale)levels (fr/32 per level) with differentcolor brightnesses or hues. In other words, a scale whose gradationlevels associated with velocities (Doppler shifts) have a constantlyprogressive change is assigned to the whole band of Doppler shiftfrequencies ranging from −fr/2 to fr/2, thus defining a color-displaygradation between red (yellow) to blue (light blue).

As mentioned above, one of the characteristics of tissue Doppler imaginglies in that pulse repetition frequencies (lower frame rates) ofultrasonic waves are set to lower values in order to enable measurementof ultra-low motion velocities of tissues. Owing to the characteristicof enabling measurement of an ultra-low motion velocity, the band ofDoppler shift frequencies required for display images produced by tissueDoppler imaging is narrower than that required for display imagesproduced by blood flow imaging of ranges, for example, from −fr/8 tofr/8.

Nevertheless, at present, the assignment of a color-display gradationadopted for blood flow imaging cannot help applying to tissue Dopplerimaging as it is. As a result, the number of gradation levels assignedto a low-velocity band is quite limited. A tissue region to be observed;such as, the cardiac muscle appears, for example, in red of almost thesame hue or brightness. It is therefore very hard to visually assess adifference in velocity in a low-velocity band image. Even if adifference in velocity smaller than fr/32 can be detected, since adisplayed hue or brightness is unchanged, high-precision detectabilityis canceled out by poor displaying ability. There still exists anunsolved problem that the high-precision detectability cannot be exertedfully.

When tissue Doppler imaging is used for diagnosis, it should bediscerned promptly whether the cardiac muscle or any other tissue regionof interest is normal or abnormal. Using the conventional displaytechnique, the levels of a color-display gradation are assigneduniformly between a low-velocity band and a high-velocity band. Thedisplaying ability for the low-velocity band is, as describedpreviously, poor. There is therefore difficulty in discerning whether adiagnostic region is normal or abnormal. Consequently, it takes too muchtime for diagnosis. Moreover, an examining physician is requested tohave high expertise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention attempts to solve the aforesaid unsolved problems.The first object of the present invention is to improve the ability todisplay a low-velocity band image by making the most of the functionrelevant to measurements of motion concerning a low-velocity band whichis available in tissue Doppler imaging.

The second object of the present invention is to achieve the firstobject and provide images that are produced by tissue Doppler imaging(hereinafter, TDI images) and facilitate easy discernment of whether aregion of interest (hereinafter, ROI)is normal or abnormal.

For achieving the above objects, as one aspect of the invention, thereis provided a diagnostic ultrasound system for displaying a color imageof a motion of a tissue contained on a subject's tomographic plane,comprising: an element for scanning an ultrasonic pulse signal along thetomographic plane so as to acquire an electrical echo signalcorresponding to an ultrasonic signal reflected from the tomographicplane; an element for extracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal,the Doppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; anelement for calculating velocity data concerning the motion of thetissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane on thebasis of the Doppler signal; an element for setting a scale along whicheach of the velocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of theDoppler signal is assigned to each gradation data for color display, themeasureable band of frequencies being limited by a pulse repetitionfrequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a given low-velocity bandof the measurable frequency band being enhanced in the gradation datathan a remaining velocity band of the measurable band; an element forconverting the velocity data into the gradation data according to thescale; and an element for displaying the color image using the gradationdata provided by the velocity converting element.

Preferably, the extracting element comprises a low-pass filter forselectively extracting the Doppler signal. Still preferably, the scaleis non-linear in a ratio between changes in the velocity data andchanges in the gradation data. For example, the ratio in the givenlow-velocity band is higher than said ratio in the remaining velocityband. For example, the specified low-velocity band is any of−fr/8≦fd≦fr/8, −fr/12≦fd≦fr/12, and −fr/16≦fd≦fr/16, where fr representsthe pulse repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and fdrepresents a Doppler shift frequency. It is preferred that at leastmaximum data of the color code data is discontinuous in gradation levelsfrom a series of remaining data of the color code data.

A diagnostic ultrasound system in accordance with the above aspect ofthe present invention is adaptable to tissue Doppler imaging. For thisimaging technique, the cardiac muscle or any other region is scannedaccording to an ultrasonic pulsed-wave Doppler method. Echoes are thenobtained, whereby a motion velocity is computed for each of samplepoints on a scanned tomographic plane. The motion velocity is visualizedin two-dimensional color display mode. For the display, the slope of ascale of velocity data versus color-display gradation data to beassigned to a low-velocity band (for example,−fr/8≦fd≦fr/8) within avelocity range measurable by the ultrasonic pulsed-wave Doppler that isequivalent to a band of Doppler shifts; −fr/2≦fd≦ fr/2 (where fr denotesa pulse repetition frequency of an ultrasonic pulsed wave, and fddenotes a Doppler shift) is larger than that of the other velocity band.This results in an increase in display resolution for the low-velocityband. A minute change in low-velocity motion of the cardiac muscle istherefore visualized with high sensitivity as a change in multi-levelgradation of color brightness degrees (luminances) or hues.Consequently, even if an attempt is made to upgrade the functionrelevant to measurements of low-velocity motion by specifying lowerpulse repetition frequencies, the function will not be impaired.Moreover, a pixel rendering a velocity comparable to a maximum gradationlevel is displayed with such a hue as making the pixel discontinuouswith the other pixels rendering lower velocities. The pixel renderingthe velocity comparable to a maximum gradation level is thereforereadily discernible. Thus, discernible efficiency improves.

As another aspect of the invention is provided by a diagnosticultrasound system for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissuecontained on a subject's tomographic plane, the color image beingsuperposed on a B-mode tomographic image of the subject's tomographicplane, the system comprising: an element for scanning an ultrasonicpulse signal along the tomographic plane to acquire an electrical echosignal corresponding to a reflected ultrasonic signal from thetomographic plane; an element for extracting a Doppler signal from theecho signal, the Doppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion ofthe tissue; an element for calculating velocity data concerning themotion of the tissue for respective sample points on the tomographicplane on the basis of the Doppler signal; an element for forming data ofthe B-mode tomographic image on the basis of the echo signal; an elementfor blanking the velocity data at every sample point when each of thevelocity data exceeds a specified threshold; and an element fordisplaying the color image by coloring the velocity data and bysuperimposing the velocity data subjected to blanking by the blankingelement on the data of the B-mode tomographic image.

Still another aspect of the invention is provided by a diagnosticultrasound system for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissuecontained on a subject's tomographic plane, the color being superposedon a B-mode tomographic image of the subject's tomographic plane, thesystem comprising: an element for scanning an ultrasonic pulse signalalong the tomographic plane to acquire an electrical echo signalcorresponding to a reflected ultrasonic signal from the tomographicplane; an element for extracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal,the Doppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; anelement for calculating velocity data concerning the motion of thetissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane on thebasis of the Doppler signal; an element for forming data of the B-modetomographic image on the basis of the echo signal; an element forsetting a scale along which each of the velocity data over a measurableband of frequencies of the Doppler signal is assigned to each gradationdata for color display, said measurable band of frequencies beinglimited by a pulse repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse signaland a given low-velocity band of the measurable frequency band beingenhanced in the gradation data than a remaining velocity band of themeasurable band; an element for converting the velocity data into thegradation data according to the scale; an element for blanking eitherone of the converted gradation data and the calculated velocity data atevery sample point when each of either one exceeds a specifiedthreshold; and an element for displaying the color image by coloring thevelocity data and by superimposing the velocity data subjected toblanking by the blanking element on the data of the B-mode tomographicimage.

Preferably, the scale setting element is an element that sets the scalein which a ratio of changes in the gradation data to changes in theDoppler frequency is higher than a corresponding ratio for analysis offluid motion within the subject and the velocity data larger than areference velocity data corresponding to maximums of the gradation dataare all assigned to the maximums. It is preferred that the diagnosticultrasound system further comprises an element for setting the thresholdindependently of the scale. It is also preferred that the scale settingelement is an element that automatically sets the threshold inconnection with setting the scale.

In consequence, in the same way as explained above, an increase indisplay resolution for the low-velocity band is provided. In addition,sample points having velocities higher than the specified threshold onthe tomographic plane dose not display the tissue Doppler image and,instead of it, display only the B-mode tomographic image as thebackground image hidden behind the tissue Doppler image. Properlyspecifying the threshold enables to exclude or minimize the meaningless(gradation-less) velocity color region of a tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graph expressing characteristics of Doppler shiftfrequencies (motion velocity) induced by tissues or blood flow and acharacteristic of a low-pass filter employed in tissue Doppler imagingaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a graph expressing an example of a velocity conversion scaleaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a brief flowchart describing a sequence executed by anencoding arithmetic unit in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a relationship between the motion direction of the cardiacmuscle and a color bar in the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows an example of display of the cardiac muscle in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows another example of a velocity conversion scale;

FIG. 8 shows yet another example of a velocity conversion scale;

FIG. 9 shows still another example of a velocity conversion scale;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a velocity arithmetic unit in thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart describing an example of a sequence executed bythe velocity arithmetic unit;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram concerning output data supplied by afrequency analyzer;

FIG. 14 shows an example of a velocity conversion scale;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram concerning an increase or decrease insize of a blanking band corresponding to a change in velocity threshold;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart describing an example of a sequence executed by ablanking control unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart describing an example of a sequence executed by avelocity arithmetic unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart describing an example of a sequence executed by ablanking unit in the third embodiment;

FIG. 20 shows an example of a velocity conversion scale in the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with a variant of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart describing a sequence executed by a velocityarithmetic unit in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 24 shows an example of velocity thresholds that define blankingbands and depend on velocity conversion scales;

FIG. 25 is a partial block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasoundsystem in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart partly describing an example of a sequenceexecuted by a blanking control unit in the fifth embodiment; and

FIG. 27 shows a velocity conversion scale for blood flow velocityanalysis in accordance with a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described inconjunction with FIGS. 1 to 6. A diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the first embodiment is a diagnostic system forproducing TDI images of the cardiac muscle (cardiac wall) that is atissue.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system. Asillustrated, a diagnostic ultrasound system 10 comprises an ultrasoundprobe 11 responsible for receiving or transmitting ultrasonic waves fromor to a subject, a main unit 12 for driving the ultrasound probe 11 andprocessing signals received by the ultrasound probe 11, anelectrocardiograph (hereinafter, ECG) 13 connected to the main unit 12in order to detect electrocardiographic information, and an operationpanel 14 connected to the main unit 12 and capable of supplyinginstruction information entered by an operator to the main unit,

The main unit 12 is broadly divided into an ultrasound probe system, anECG system, and an operation panel system according to the type ofsignal line concerned, The ultrasound probe system has anultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15 connected to the ultrasoundprobe 11 and includes a B-mode digital scan converter (hereinafter,B-mode DSC) 16, a B-mode frame memory 17, a memory synthesizer 18, and adisplay unit 19 which are installed in the output stage of theultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15. The ultrasound probe systemfurther includes a phase detector 20 for use in color mapping, a filter21, a frequency analyzer 22, an encoding arithmetic unit 23, a tissueDoppler imaging DSC (hereinafter, TDI DSC) 24, and a tissue Dopplerimaging frame memory (hereinafter, TDI frame memory) 25, all of whichare connected to the ultrasound probe 11. The ECG system has an ECGamplifier 40 connected to the ECG 13 and includes a triggering signalgenerator 41 and a reference data memory 42 which are connected in theoutput stage of the amplifier 40. The operation panel system includes aCPU 43 that inputs operation information entered at the operation panel14, and a timing signal generator 44 working under the control of theCPU 43. The CPU 43 can supply a ROI setting signal representing acommand entered at the operation panel 14 by an operator to componentelements required for setting a ROI.

In this embodiment, the ultrasound probe 11 and ultrasonic-wavetransmitter/receiver 15 constitute a scanning means in accordance withthe present invention. The phase detector 20 serves as a sampling means.The filter 21 and frequency analyzer 22 constitute a velocity arithmeticmeans in accordance with the present invention. The TDI DSC 24, TDIframe memory 25, memory synthesizer 18, and display unit 19 constitute adisplay means in accordance with the present invention. The encodingarithmetic unit 23 has the capabilities of a scale setting means and avelocity converting means.

A phased-array transducer in which a plurality of strip-shapedpiezoelectric oscillators are set in array is incorporated in theultrasound probe 11. The piezoelectric oscillators are energized inresponse to drive signal sent from the ultrasonic-wavetransmitter/receiver 15. By controlling the delay times of drivesignals, scan directions can be changed to enable electronic sectorscanning. Delay-time patterns set for the ultrasonic-wavetransmitter/receiver 15 are controlled by the CPU 43 using a referencesignal sent from the timing signal generator 44, as a representation ofa reference time instant. The ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15supplies drive voltages, which are generated according to the delay-timepatterns controlled dependently on scan directions, to the ultrasoundprobe 11. When receiving the drive voltages, the ultrasound probe 11allows the transducer to transform the voltages into ultrasonic waves.The resultant ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the heart of asubject. The transmitted ultrasonic waves are reflected from tissuesincluding the heart and returned to the ultrasound probe 11. Thetransducer in the probe 11 then transforms the reflected ultrasonicwaves into voltages (echoes). The echoes are supplied to theultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15.

A signal processor in the ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15beam-forms the input echoes by delaying the echoes in the same manner asit does for transmission, and produces an echo beam that is equivalentto an ultrasound beam focused in the scan direction. The echo beamresulting from beam forming is subjected to phase detection and thensupplied to the B-mode DSC 16. The DSC 16 converts echo data resultingfrom ultrasound scanning into standard TV data and supplies the standardTV data into the memory synthesizer 18. Concurrently, the B-mode DSC 16places data of a plurality of images produced in any cardiac phase inthe B-mode frame memory 17.

The echoes processed by the ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15 arealso supplied to the phase detector 20. The phase detector 20 includesmixers and low-pass filter. Echoes reflected from a region makingmotion; such as, the cardiac muscle have undergone a Doppler shift dueto the Doppler effect. The phase detector 20 performs phase detection onthe echoes to discriminate frequencies of Doppler signals and thensupplies Doppler signals alone to the filter 21.

The filter 21 removes unnecessary signal components; such as, valvularmotion signal components returned from any region other than the cardiacwall or blood flow signal components from the Doppler signals resultingfrom phase detection on the basis of the relationship of the magnitudesof motion velocities; the magnitude of a motion velocity of the cardiacmuscle<that of a valve<that of blood flow (See FIG. 2). The filter 21thus highly efficiently detects the Doppler signals returned from thecardiac muscle and related to the direction of an ultrasound beam. Inthis case, the filter 21 plays the role of a low-pass filter.

The filter is included in even a color Doppler tomography system thathas already been put to practical use and designed for acquiring bloodflow information. For the color Doppler tomography system for acquiringblood flow information, the filter serves as a high-pass filter forhandling echoes containing a mixture of blood flow, cardiac wall, andvalvular motion of Doppler signals, and thus eliminates the Dopplersignals other than the blood flow Doppler signals. If the filter isdesigned to serve as either of low-pass and high-pass filters accordingto a purpose of use, it can enjoy the general-purpose characteristic.

The Doppler signals filtered by the filter 21 are supplied to thefrequency analyzer 22 lying in the subsequent stage. The frequencyanalyzer 22 adopts fast Fourier transform (hereinafter, FFT) orautocorrelation that is a technique of frequency analysis employed inblood flow measurements based on an ultrasonic-wave Doppler technique,wherein average velocities or maximum velocities to be detected withinan observation time interval (time window) at sample points on atomographic plane to be scanned are computed. To be more specific, forexample, the FFT or autocorrelation technique is used to compute averagefrequencies of Doppler signals at individual sample points (that is,average motion velocities to be observed at the sample points) andvariances (spectral incoherences of Doppler signals). Furthermore, theFFT technique is used to compute maximum frequencies of the Dopplersignals (that is, maximum motion velocities to be observed at the samplepoints) substantially in real time. The results of analysis on thefrequencies of the Doppler signals are supplied as color Dopplerinformation concerning motion velocities to the encoding arithmetic unit23 in the subsequent stage.

The encoding arithmetic unit 23 has the capability of a CPU, and encodesDoppler shift frequencies fd, which are induced at the sample points onthe tomographic plane and provided by the frequency analyzer 22, intovelocity data composed of a given number of bits using a designatedvelocity conversion scale. According to the ultrasonic pulsed-waveDoppler technique, pulse repetition frequencies fr of ultrasonic pulsedwaves correspond to sampling rates. Based on the sampling theorem, amaximum measurable Doppler shift frequency fdmax is determined accordingto the following formula:

fd=fr/2

A doppler shift frequency fd that can be computed by the frequencyanalyzer 22 and does not trigger aliasing has the following band:

−fr/2≦fd≦fr/2

Within the Doppler shift frequency (velocity) band, a band expressedbelow is quantized at a quantization factor of fr/128, and thus encodedinto velocity codes each having a data length of, for example, 5 bits.

−fr/8≦fd≦fr/8

In this case, when the Doppler shift frequency fd ranges as follows:

−fr/2≦fd≦−fr/8

it is associated with an encoded data obtained when the fd has a value−fr/8 comparable to a maximum gradation level for one motion direction(for example, for a direction of receding from an ultrasound beam). Whenthe Doppler shift frequency fd ranges as follows:

fr/8<fd ≦fr/2

it is associated with an encoded data obtained when the fd has a valuefr/8 comparable to a maximum gradation level for the other motiondirection (for example, for a direction of approaching an ultrasoundbeam).

As a result, a velocity conversion scale whose abscissae cover a Dopplershift frequency band of −fr/2≦fd≦fr/2 and whose ordinates indicatevelocity codes expressed with changing hues of color-display colors; red(yellow) and blue (light blue) appears as shown in FIG. 3. That is tosay, when the absolute value of a velocity exceeds a quotient of fr/8,the colors are saturated. Velocity display data of 5 bits long that isobtained for each sample point and has undergone encoding is supplied tothe TDI DSC 24 in the subsequent stage. The aforesaid procedurecorresponds to step S1 to S5 in FIG. 4.

The TDI DSC 24 includes a DSC circuit 24a for changing scanning formsand a coloring circuit 24b having a look-up table for use in convertingencoded velocity display data into color data. Velocity display datasent from the encoding arithmetic unit 23 are converted into standard TVsignals by the DSC circuit 24a, and further converted into color data bythe coloring circuit 24b. The converted signals are supplied to thememory synthesizer 18.

Now, mention will be made of a color display form used to render avelocity of the cardiac muscle and employed in the coloring circuit 24b.The color display form is broadly classified into (i) a form ofdisplaying magnitudes (absolute values) of velocities, (ii) a form ofdisplaying motion directions and magnitudes of velocities, and (iii) aform of displaying motion directions. The display form (i) falls intoform (a) in which display is monochrome and brightnesses are dependenton magnitudes and form (b) in which colors are dependent on magnitudes.The display form (ii) includes a form in which directions arediscriminated with hues and magnitudes are indicated with theirbrightnesses, and a form in which directions are indicated with hues andmagnitudes are indicated with changes in their hues. Herein, anadaptable form of rendering velocities is limited dependently on avelocity information structure. The coloring circuit 24b in the TDI DSC24 determines colors as shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, according to aconventional method of rendering a motion approaching an ultrasound beamin red and a motion receding from the ultrasound beam in blue, thesystolic motion of the cardiac muscle is rendered in red (yellow) andthe diastolic motion thereof is rendered in blue (light blue). With alarger absolute value, red or blue is gradated into yellow or lightblue. As a result, velocity display data concerning a desiredlow-velocity band of−fr/8≦fd≦fr/8 is converted into color information of32 gradation levels, which represent a series of color-display colorsfrom light blue through blue and red to yellow, for each motiondirection.

The DSC circuit 24a places a plurality of color Doppler images producedin any cardiac phase in the TDI frame memory 25.

The aforesaid ECG 13 detects electrocardiographic information of asubject in respective cardiac phases of the subject. The detected signalis supplied to each of the triggering signal generator 41 and referencedata memory 42 via the ECG amplifier 40. The reference data memory 42stores electrocardiographic information acquired in the respectivecardiac phases and supplies required information to the memorysynthesizer 18 when it becomes necessary.

The triggering signal generator 41 informs the timing signal generator44 of timing information concerning the cardiac phases. The timingsignal generator 44 operates under the control of the CPU 43 thatcontrols delay-time patterns to be set for the ultrasonic-wavetransmitter/receiver 15 in response to an instruction entered at theoperation panel 14. When notified of the timing of each cardiac phasesby the triggering signal generator 41, the timing signal generator 44outputs a reference signal for use in transmitting or receivingultrasonic waves to or from the ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 15.

As mentioned above, a B-mode image signal sent from the B-mode DSC 16, aTDI-mode image signal sent from the TDI DSC 24, and, if necessary,electrocardiographic information supplied from the reference data memory42 are fed to the memory synthesizer 18. The memory synthesizer 18superposes these input signals. Data resulting from the superposition issupplied to the display unit 19. The display unit 19 includes acathode-ray tube (hereinafter, CRT).

As a result, since the blood flow Doppler signal and valvular Dopplersignal have already been cut off by the filter 21, a tomographic image,in which a B-mode tomographic image (black-and-white gradation) of theheart and a color image rendering the motion of the cardiac muscle withcolors contained in a color bar shown in FIG. 5 according to thevelocity conversion scale shown in FIG. 3 are superposed on each other,is, as shown in FIG. 6, displayed substantially in real time on thedisplay unit 19 (in FIG. 6, a hatched area indicates the cardiac muscleHM). In other words, the cardiac muscle HM in FIG. 6 appears in red(yellow) during systole and in blue (light blue) during diastole. Thecolors of red and blue reappear cyclically and in real time. A change inmotion velocity during systole or aliastole is expressed substantiallyin real time as a change in hue of red or yellow, or blue or light blue.The motion velocity of the cardiac muscle HM can be rendered in colorsubstantially in real time and highly accurately. Thus, basic images foruse in assessing cardiac hypofunction quantitatively and highlyaccurately are made available.

In particular, as far as tissue Doppler imaging is concerned, since asuper-low-velocity band of −fr/8≦fd=fr/8 is rendered with huesequivalent to 32 gradation levels (quantization rate of 5 bits), whichare all of the gradation levels provided by the color bar, for eachmotion direction, as very small a Doppler shift frequency(that indicatesa motion velocity) as a quotient of fr/128 is assigned each gradationlevel in practice. Compared with the aforesaid conventional method inwhich all the 32 gradation levels are assigned to the full band of−fr/2≦fd≦fr/2, the display ability to render the super-low-velocity bandof −fr/8≦fd≦fr/8 is upgraded fourfold. This enables the velocity ofsuper-low-velocity motion of the cardiac muscle detected with low pulserepetition frequencies to be rendered in an unprecedentedly large numberof gradation levels. A minute difference in velocity concerning asuper-low-velocity band is rendered with a display color of a differenthue. Consequently, a difference in velocity becomes readily discerniblefor evaluation,

In clinical assessment conducted by the present applicant, any valueranging from 4 cm/s to 10 cm/s was specified as a maximum velocity forthe low-velocity band, and a velocity exceeding the maximum velocity wasrendered with a saturated color and encoded into velocity dataassociated with red or blue of the highest brightness (a change inbrightness of a designated color was adopted as color-display gradationdata instead of a change in hue). A velocity that triggers aliasing andis calculated on the basis of a sampling rate was four times or eighttimes higher than the maximum velocity rendered with a saturated color;that is, ranged from 30 cm/s to 40 cm/s. Under this condition, themotion velocity of the ventricle wall was measured. It was confirmedthat no aliasing occurred.

Even ultrasonic pulsed waves having the same pulse repetitionfrequencies as those adopted conventionally are used for scanning, thecapacity for measuring the velocity of super-low-velocity motion of atissue will not be impaired but a high-performance system can bematerialized.

Since the diagnostic system in the aforesaid embodiment includes twokinds of frame memories 17 and 25 dedicated to B and TDI modesrespectively, if necessary, the diagnostic system may perform cine loopreproduction such as slow-motion reproduction or frame-by-framereproduction, animated reproduction, or independent or parallel displayof images produced in different cardiac phases between B and CFM modes.

The aforesaid tomography system may be provided with a Doppler filter orFFT frequency analyzer for use in rendering the motion of the cardiacmuscle on the basis of Doppler principle.

Furthermore, in the aforesaid embodiment, an image on which a TDI imageof the cardiac muscle is superposed is a B-mode tomographic image, and aregion to be diagnosed is the heart. The present invention is notnecessarily limited to this application. For example, the B-mode imagemay be replaced with an M-mode image (in this case, the componentelements required for producing B-mode images are replaced with thoserequired for producing M-mode images). The vascular wall may bediagnosed on behalf of the cardiac muscle (in this case, the cutofffrequency of the filter 21 is set to a value optimal for the vascularwall). Moreover, the B-mode images or M-mode images may not besuperposed on a TDI image, but a TDI (color Doppler) image alone may bedisplayed.

Furthermore, biomedical signals including electrocardiograms may bedisplayed concurrently or a time lag relative to the R wave of anelectrocardiographic signal may be displayed for reference. This displaymode is employed in a normal B-mode tomography system or blood flow(color flow) mapping, and helpful for clearly indicating the associationof biomedical signals with produced images.

An absolute velocity arithmetic unit may be interposed between thefrequency analyzer 22 and encoding arithmetic unit 23 in the aforesaidembodiment. Absolute motion velocities of tissues including the cardiacmuscle (that is, velocities in motion directions of tissues at samplepoints) may be computed by inference, and displayed two-dimensionally incolor.

On the other hand, the low-velocity band to be rendered in finegradation levels owing to the superb gradation rendering ability inaccordance with the present invention is not limited to the band in theaforesaid embodiment; −fr/8≦fd≦fr/8. When the encoding arithmetic unitis programmed differently, a band of −fr/12≦fd≦ fr/12 plotted as avelocity conversion scale indicated with a dot-dash line in FIG. 7 or aband of −fr/16≦fd≦fr/16 plotted as a velocity conversion scale indicatedwith an alternate long-and-two short-dashes line will do. Any of thesefrequency bands; −fr/8≦fd ≦fr/8, −fr/12≦fd=fr/12, and −fr/16≦fd≦fr/16may be selected according to a manual operation signal entered by anoperator, so that the operator can designate an appropriate band whileviewing a screen on the display unit. For this purpose, the CPU 43 inFIG. 1 should send a selection signal concerning manual operation to theencoding arithmetic unit 23 in response to the manual operation signalpropagating from the operation panel 14.

For enhancement of a low-velocity band in accordance with the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 8, a velocity conversion scale having asharp slope may be assigned to a desired low-velocity band of, forexample,−fr/12≦fd≦fr/12, and a velocity conversion scale having amoderate slope may be assigned to a middle-velocity band outside thelow-velocity band. In this case, an encoding arithmetic unit is used tocontrol transition between adjoining ones of a plurality of slopes of avelocity conversion scale. Consequently, two-dimensional color imagesreflecting a relationship in velocity between a low-velocity band and asurrounding band can be produced.

For enhancement of a low-velocity band in accordance with the presentinvention, a velocity conversion scale indicated with a solid line inFIG. 9 may be employed (a dot-dash line in FIG. 9 indicates aconventional scale dedicated to blood flow analysis). The velocityconversion scale is pre-set as, for example, a storage table in theencoding arithmetic unit 23. Assigned to, for example, a band of−fr/8<fd<+fr/8 defined as a low-velocity band are velocity codesequivalent to gradation levels representing hues that have a progressive(or continuous) change from red to yellow and from blue to light bluefor each direction of tissue motion. However, when an averaged Dopplershift frequency fd (that is an average velocity of tissue motion) meetsthe condition of fd≧±fr/8, velocity display codes associated withspecial colors CL1 and CL2 whose hues are not continuous at all areassigned uniformly to the above low-velocity band but the velocitydisplay codes associated with the hues having a continuous change fromred to yellow and from blue to light blue are not. The special colorsCL1 and CL2 are produced by mixing a red hue and a blue hue with acertain hue. Needless to say, the velocity thresholds are not limited to±fr/8 but may be any values that can be modified. The motion velocitiesof tissues exceeding those defined with a predetermined low-velocityband are discernible at sight owing discontinuous hues. With theenhancement of a low-velocity band, interpretation of diagnostic imagesgets further easier.

Gradation levels equivalent to velocity display codes necessary forcolor display in accordance with the present invention may be huesdependent on magnitudes of velocities or brightnesses of red (or blue)dependent on magnitudes of velocities as mentioned above.

The aforesaid embodiment or any variant thereof can be incorporated intoa conventional diagnostic ultrasound system capable of performing bloodflow Doppler imaging, if necessary.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be describedin conjunction with FIGS. 10 to 15. The aforesaid first embodiment aimsat improving the ability to render a low-velocity band. A diagnosticultrasound system of the second embodiment attempts not only to improvethe rendering ability but also to permit easy diagnosis of discerningwhether a ROI is normal or abnormal. For achieving this object, thediagnostic ultrasound system of the second embodiment has theconfiguration shown in FIG. 10.

To be more specific, the diagnostic ultrasound system comprises anultrasound probe 100 responsible for transmitting or receivingultrasonic waves to or from a subject, and a main unit 101 for drivingthe ultrasound probe 100 and processing signals received by theultrasound probe 100.

The ultrasound probe 100 is of a phased array type similarly to the onein the first embodiment. The main unit 101 has an ultrasonic-wavetransmitter/receiver 110 connected to the ultrasound probe 100, andincludes a phase detector 111, an A/D converter 112, a filter 113, amotion velocity analyzer 114, a DSC 115, a coloring unit 116, a D/Aconverter 117, and a color monitor 118 which are connected in that orderin the output stage of the ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 110.

The motion velocity analyzer 114 is connected to a blanking control unit121 for blanking at least part of a color image of tissue motion whichwill be described later. Necessary information is fed to the blankingcontrol unit 121 by an examining physician through an input unit 122.

The ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 110 includes atransmitter/receiver 110a for driving the ultrasound probe 100 in cyclesof a duration of a supplied rate pulse and for beam-forming echoes sentfrom the ultrasound probe 100 by delaying the echoes and adding them toeach other, a rate pulse generator (RPG) 110b for supplying necessaryinformation such as raster addresses to the transmitter/receiver 110a,and an envelope detector 110c for producing a B-mode image signal. Theultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 110 functions similarly to the onein the first embodiment.

In the output stage of the transmitter/receiver 110a, the phase detector111, A/D converter 112, and filter 113 are connected in that order.These units function similarly to the phase detector 20 and filter 21(having the capability of an A/D converter) in the first embodiment.

The motion velocity analyzer 114 includes a frequency analyzer 114a foranalyzing frequencies of Doppler signals detected at sample points on atomographic layer by performing autocorrelation or the like. The motionvelocity analyzer 114 further includes a velocity arithmetic unit 114bfor computing average frequencies (average velocities) of Dopplersignals at the sample points using the results of the analysis, avariance arithmetic unit 114c for computing variances (spectralincoherences), and a power arithmetic unit 114d for computing theintensities (powers) of Doppler signals.

The velocity arithmetic unit 114b in this embodiment includes, as shownin FIG. 11, a CPU 1140 and a memory 1141. A program that runs asdescribed in FIG. 12 is pre-set in a given storage area in the memory1141. The program is run automatically with the activation of thevelocity arithmetic unit 114b. The velocity arithmetic unit 114b may bemade by combining analog and digital electronic circuit elements in sucha manner that they function to execute the sequence shown in FIG. 12.

The blanking control unit 1 21 interprets a signal supplied from theinput unit 122, and, on the basis of the interpretation, supplies athreshold signal S_(θth) representing a threshold θ_(th) of an argumentθ required for blanking and a factor signal S_(K) representing a scaleconversion factor K to the velocity arithmetic unit 11b.

The DSC 115 inputs image data of a monochrome B-mode tomographic imagesent from the envelope detector 110c as well as image data of a TDIimage sent from the velocity arithmetic unit 114b, variance arithmeticunit 114c, and power arithmetic unit 114d, and produces frame image datain which the TDI image is superposed (synthesized with) on the B-modeimage. The frame image data is sent to the coloring unit 116. Thecoloring unit 116 colors the pixels of the TDI image according to thevelocity display codes, and sends the color frame image data to thecolor monitor 118 via the D/A converter 117.

The sequence executed by the velocity arithmetic unit 114b will bedescribed in conjunction with FIG. 12.

The CPU 1140 in the velocity arithmetic unit 114b first reads thethreshold signal S_(θth) supplied from the blanking control unit 121 atstep 200. At step 201, the CPU 1140 stores the threshold θ_(th)represented by the threshold signal S_(θth). The velocity arithmeticunit 114b inputs, as described later, for example, the factors Re and Im(complex numbers) among autocorrelation factors Re, Im and P_(o) foraverage frequencies of Doppler signals (average velocities) resultingfrom analysis made by the frequency analyzer 114a, and calculates anargument θ indicating a point on a unit circle on a complex plane andcorresponding to a motion velocity of a tissue (See FIG. 13). Thethreshold (θ_(th) is therefore equivalent to a threshold V_(th) of amotion velocity V (indicating a Doppler shift frequency) as shown inFIG. 14.

The CPU 1140 then passes control to step 202, and reads the factorsignal SK representing the scale conversion factor K (>1) for use inenhancing the ability to display a TDI image from the blanking controlunit 121. At step 203, the scale conversion factor K represented by thefactor signal S_(K) is stored, When the factor K equals to 1, blood flowvelocity analysis is designated.

At step 204, the CPU 1140 inputs, for example, the autocorrelationfactor (Re, Im) provided by the frequency analyzer 114a. At step 205,the CPU 1140 computes the argument θ corresponding to the velocity V oftissue motion mentioned above. The argument θ has a value indicatingthat the scale conversion factor K is 1; that is, the blood flowvelocity analysis is designated. The value of the argument θ variesaccording to a straight line (velocity conversion scale) indicated witha dot-dash line d in FIG. 14. In FIG. 14, the abscissa indicates themotion velocity V and the ordinate indicates the velocity display codeCD_(ν) (for example, logical data of 8 bits long) representing abrightness level used as a gradation level of red (for a motionapproaching the probe) or blue (for a motion receding from the probe).In FIG. 14, various lines or velocity conversion scales in accordancewith the present invention may be plotted as described later. Thestraight line d manifests a velocity conversion scale to be used forblood flow velocity analysis. The velocity conversion scale d is, asalready known, such that velocity display codes CD_(ν) having acontinuous change are assigned to all the velocities V withinaliasing-prone velocities indicated with a band of ±fr/2.

At step 206, the CPU 1140 determines whether the argument θ computed atstep 205 exceeds the threshold θ_(th) set at step 201 (that is, whetherthe V value exceeds the V_(th) threshold). When the result of thedetermination is in the affirmative (θ>θ_(th)), control is passed tostep 207. A blanking command is issued in order to blank pixelsrendering the motion velocity corresponding to the argument 0thatexceeds the threshold θ_(th) (V>V_(th)). By performing blanking, thevelocity display codes CD_(ν) assigned to the pixels concerned areforcibly set to a value of 0, 0, . . . , 0 (blank code) meaning that theV value is 0.

When the blanking command terminates or when the result of thedetermination made at step 206 is in the negative (θ<θ_(th)), control ispassed to step 208. At step 208, the scale conversion factor K (>1) setat step 203 is multiplied by the argument θ computed at step 205.

With the multiplication of K by θ, the argument θ corresponding to thevelocity V of tissue motion is weighted to enhance a low-velocity bandof a TDI image signal. For example, a velocity conversion scale whosescale conversion factor K equals to a K_(i) value (that is larger than 1or, for example, 4) is plotted as a line a but not plotted as thestraight line d indicating that blood flow analysis is designated. Evenwhen the argument θ(=0) having undergone blanking is multiplied by thefactor K, the product is zero. The velocity conversion scale a that isan example of a velocity conversion scale for tissue Doppler imaging is,as shown in FIG. 14, plotted as a characteristic line according to whichvelocity codes equivalent to all set brightness levels of displaycolors; red and blue are assigned to a range of V=±Va (for example,±fr/8). A range of Va≧|V|≧V_(th) is assigned velocity display codes±CD_(ν(MAX)) associated with maximum brightnesses, or in other words,saturated colors. With the V values equal to ±V_(th), the characteristicline a falls to the axis of abscissas indicating a color of black.

Another examples of velocity conversion scales are plotted ascharacteristic lines b and c in FIG. 14, wherein the scale conversionfactor K by which the argument θ is multiplied is set to a K₂ value(which is larger than the K₁ value and, for example, 8) and a K₃ value(which is larger than the K₂ value and, for example, 16) respectively.According to the velocity conversion scale b, the value of the velocitydisplay code CD_(ν) increases linearly in a range of V=±Vb (for example,±fr/12). A range of Vb≧|V|≧V_(th) is assigned saturated colors ormaximum velocity display codes ±CD_(ν(MAX)) associated with maximumbrightnesses of red and blue. For the other velocity conversion scale c,the value of the velocity display code CD_(ν) increases linearly in arange of V=±Vc (for example, ±fr/16). A range of Vc≧|V|≧V_(th) isassigned the saturated colors or maximum velocity display codes±CD_(ν(MAX)) associated with maximum brightnesses. In either of thescales b and c, the characteristic line falls with the V value given as|V|≧Vth because of the effect of blanking. As mentioned above, the slopeof the straight line section of a characteristic line of a velocityconversion scale gets larger proportionally to the value of the factor Kserving as a multiplier. The ability to render a low-velocity bandaccording to gradations is enhanced proportionally to the value of thescale conversion factor K.

Upon completion of multiplication to be performed for tissue Dopplerimaging using the scale conversion factor K as a multiplier, the CPU1140 passes control to step 209 in FIG. 12, and converts a product ofthe argument θ (corresponding to the velocity V) by the factor K into avelocity display code CD_(ν). The conversion is achieved by referencinga storage table which is pre-set in the memory 1141 and in which thevalues of the argument θ are placed in one-to-one correspondence withvelocity display codes CD_(ν) (each of which is, for example, 8 bitslong). At step 210, the velocity display code CD_(ν) resulting from theconversion is fed to the DSC 115.

At step 211, the threshold signal Sθth and factor signal S_(K) are readagain. At step 21 2, it is determined whether both or either of thethreshold θ_(th) of the argument θ represented by the threshold signalS_(θth) and the factor K represented by the factor signal S_(K) shouldbe modified. If the values are modified, control is returned to step 201or 203. If the threshold θ_(th) and factor K are not modified butblanking is continued, control is returned to step 204 via step 213.Blanking is controlled as described previously.

Echoes reflected from living tissues to which an ultrasound beam istransmitted from the ultrasound probe 100 are returned to the probe 100.The echoes are converted into received signals with magnitudes ofelectricity by the probe 100, received by the transmitter/receiver 110a,and then subjected to orthogonal phase detection by the phase detector111. Signal components having Doppler shifts that are induced by tissuemotion are extracted from the detected signals by means of the filter113. The Doppler signals still containing clutter components are sent tothe frequency analyzer 114a. The results of the frequency analysis aresent to the velocity arithmetic unit 114b, variance arithmetic unit114c, and power arithmetic unit 114c, whereby intended values relevantto tissue motion are computed. In the power arithmetic unit 114d, thecomputation of Klog₁₀P_(o) is carried out (K is a constant).

Assuming that commands are issued to the velocity arithmetic unit 114bvia the input unit 122 and blanking control unit 121 in order to specifythe threshold θ_(th) of the argument θ (that is, the threshold V_(th) ofthe velocity V of tissue motion) as shown in FIG. 14 and to set thescale conversion factor K required for tissue Doppler imaging to a K₂value (line b), the characteristic line indicated with a dot-dash linemb in FIG. 14 is selected for conversion into codes.

When an average velocity (a product of K by θ) of tissue motion computedfor enhancement of a TDI image is within a low-velocity range of|V|<±Vb, all permissible velocity display codes CDV are employed. Whenthe velocity V is within a range of ±Vb≦|V|<±V_(th), maximum velocitydisplay codes ±CDV_((MAX)) associated with maximum brightnesses areassigned to saturated colors. Velocities defined with ±V_(th)≧|V| areassigned a blank code.

As mentioned above, the results of motion velocity analysis containingaverage velocity data, which have undergone blanking, are sent to theDSC 115. The DSC 115 is also provided with B-mode image data by theenvelope detector 110c. The motion velocity information is superposed onthe B-mode image. The superposed frame image data is colored by thecoloring unit 116, and then displayed on the color monitor 118. Thedisplay image has the motion velocity information concerning a colorimage of tissue motion superposed on the background of the monochromeB-mode image. Pixels rendering velocities exceeding a designated V_(th)value are blanked at step 207 in FIG. 12 and therefore not displayed incolor. In other words, color information is not superposed on pixelsrendering a high-velocity band indicated with ±V_(th)≦|V|, and only theB-mode image serving as the background is visible to an examiningphysician.

When the velocity threshold V_(th) (practically, the threshold θ_(th) ofthe argument θ) to be specified in order to cut off a high-frequencyband is set to an appropriate value, tissue motion such as of cardiacmuscle motion that is visualized with a maximum brightness without anychange in gradation can be limited to the smallest possible area(smallest number of pixels). This results in an easy-to-see screen. Itis therefore substantially avoidable that the maximum-brightness imageunnecessary for tissue motion analysis interferes with diagnosis. Thiscontributes to improvement of diagnostic efficiency (or to reduction oftime and labor required for diagnosis).

A background image (monochrome B-mode image) appears in place of themaximum-brightness image. Thus, another information required fordiagnosis becomes available.

Since the velocity conversion scales a, b, and c (See FIG. 14)characteristic of enhancing a low-velocity band are employed, low motionvelocities suggesting necrotic tissues are readily discernible. Thisleads to improvement of the ability to diagnose whether a ROI is normalor abnormal.

In this embodiment, the threshold V_(th) of the motion velocity V can beset irrespectively to the velocity conversion scale a (b or c). Themaximum brightnesses ±CD_(ν(MAX)) of red and blue to be allowed toappear in a monitor screen can be adjusted optimally to the samevelocity conversion scale a (b or c) (or, in other words, to the samelow-velocity enhancement function). Depending on the threshold V_(th)and scale conversion factor K, as indicated with a dot-dash line m₁ inFIG. 15, images with maximum brightnesses associated with maximumgradation levels may be allowed to appear in a monitor screen.Alternatively, as indicated with a solid line m₂ in FIG. 15, a TDI colorimage alone whose brightnesses have not reached to the maximum valuesmay be blanked.

In this embodiment, a plurality of velocity conversion scales a, b, andc are pre-prepared for tissue motion analysis and selectively usedaccording to a diagnostic purpose (See steps 202 and 211 in FIG. 12).This results in a highly general-purpose system. Virtual lines ma and mcin FIG. 14 present another examples of velocity conversioncharacteristic lines in which the velocity threshold V_(th) is set to afixed value.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment of the present invention will be described inconjunction with FIGS. 16 to 20. In a diagnostic ultrasound system inaccordance with the third embodiment, the aforesaid blanking of ahigh-velocity band of tissue motion signals is executed after velocitydisplay codes are computed so that a low-velocity band will be enhanced.For the third embodiment and thereafter, component elements identical tothose in the second embodiment will be assigned the same referencenumerals. The description on the identical component elements will beomitted or summarized.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic ultrasound system of thethird embodiment. A blanking unit 125 is interposed between the motionvelocity analyzer 114 and DSC 115. The aforesaid factor signal S_(K)alone is supplied from the blanking control unit 121 to the aforesaidvelocity arithmetic unit 114b. A threshold signal S_(CDth) representinga threshold of a velocity display code is supplied to the blanking unit125.

The blanking control unit 121 has the capability of a computer,including a CPU 1210 and a memory 1211. The CPU 1210 executes thesequence described in FIG. 17. The CPU 1140 in the velocity arithmeticunit 114b executes the sequence described in FIG. 18. The blanking unit125 includes a CPU 1250 and a memory 1251. The CPU 1250 executes thesequence described in FIG. 19.

To begin with, the actions of the blank control unit 121 will bedescribed in conjunction with FIG. 17. The CPU 1210 calculates a scaleconversion factor K on the basis of an operation signal entered at theinput 122 at steps 250 and 251. The CPU 1210 then outputs a factorsignal S_(K) representing the calculated scale conversion factor K tothe velocity arithmetic unit 114b (step 252). At step 253, velocities±V_(MAX) represented by velocity display codes ±CD_(ν(MAX)) that areassociated with maximum brightnesses and derived from a velocityconversion scale which is weighted with the K value and designed forblood flow analysis are computed (See FIG. 20). The computation of the±V_(MAX) values may be assigned to the velocity arithmetic unit 114b,and then the computed values may be returned from the velocityarithmetic unit 114b.

The CPU then reads an operation signal entered at the input unit 122 atstep 254, and computes the velocity threshold V_(th) desired by anexamining physician at step 255 (See FIG. 20). The velocity thresholdhas no direct relation to the argument θ, for the velocity thresholdV_(th) is supposed to define thresholds for the already-convertedvelocity display codes CD_(ν) supplied from the velocity arithmetic unit114b.

Based on the velocity threshold Vth, it is determined at step 256whether |v_(th)|>V_(MAX) is established. If the result of thedetermination is in the affirmative or if −V_(MAX)≦Vth≦+V_(MAX) isestablished, a threshold CD_(th) of a velocity display codecorresponding to the threshold V_(th) is computed (See FIG. 20) (step257). A code threshold signal S_(CDth) representing the thresholdCD_(th) is then supplied to the blanking unit 125 (step 258). Bycontrast, if the result of the determination made at step 256 is in thenegative or if |V_(th)|>V_(MAX) is established, an indication meaningthat blanking is disabled is displayed on the monitor 118 by means ofthe DSC 115 (See the signal S_(un) in FIG. 16).

After the processing of steps 259 and 258 is completed, an attempt ismade at step 260 to read an operation signal entered at the input unit122. At step 261, it is determined whether the examining physician wantsto modify both or either of the scale conversion factor K and velocitythreshold V_(th). If the result of the determination is in theaffirmative, control is returned to step 251 or 255 and the processingis rerun. If the result of the determination made at step 261 is in thenegative, it is determined at step 262 whether the sequence terminates.If the sequence continues, the processing of steps 260 to 262 is rerunand a standby state is set up.

The subsequent actions of the velocity arithmetic unit 114b will bedescribed in conjunction with FIG. 18. The actions are identical orequivalent to the corresponding steps bearing the same referencenumerals in FIG. 12. Steps 202,201,206, and 207 in FIG. 12 are excluded,though. In response to a command specifying the scale conversion factorK and being issued from the blanking control unit 121, a velocitydisplay code CD_(ν) that is weighted in order to enhance a low-velocityband is supplied to the blanking processor 125.

The actions of the blanking unit 125 will be described in conjunctionwith FIG. 19. A CPU 1250 in the blanking unit 125 first reads a codethreshold signal S_(CDth) sent from the blanking unit 121 at step 270,and sets the threshold CD_(th) of a velocity display code at step 271.The velocity display code CD_(ν) sent from the velocity arithmetic unit114b is read at step 272, and it is determined at step 273 whether|CD_(ν)|>CD_(th) is established. If the result of the determination isin the affirmative (the absolute value of the sent code CD_(ν) exceedsthe threshold CD_(th)), control is passed to step 274. Blanking is thenperformed on the velocity display code CD_(ν). Thus, a blank code isforcibly assigned to each of pixels rendering velocities V associatedwith codes CD_(ν) whose absolute values exceed the threshold CD_(th).

If the result of the determination made at step 273 is in the negativeor |CD_(ν)|≦CD_(th) is established, the velocity display code CD_(ν)*(including the blanking code) having undergone blanking at step 274 issupplied to the DSC 115 (step 275).

At step 276, the CPU 1250 attempts to read a code threshold signalS_(CDth) that may be supplied from the blanking unit 125. At step 277,the CPU 1250 determines whether the examining physician wants to modifythe threshold CD_(th). For modifying the threshold CD_(th), control isreturned to step 271. For leaving the threshold CD_(th) intact, it isdetermined at step 278 whether the sequence terminates. If the sequencedoes not terminate, control is returned to step 272. The aforesaidprocessing is rerun.

The blanking unit 125 is not illustrated in particular. For observingboth or either of a velocity variance and a power independently, thesevalues are supplied directly to the DSC 115. For observing the valuestogether with a velocity V, the velocity V (that is, a velocity displaycode CD_(ν)) is given priority, and pixels to which velocity displaycodes CD_(ν) exceeding the threshold CD_(th) are assigned are blanked.The processing is executed in response to a command signal S_(con)entered at a console that is not shown.

The blanking control unit 121, velocity arithmetic unit 114b, andblanking unit 125 act as described above. As shown in FIG. 20, only whenthe threshold V_(th), which are used for blanking and designated by theexamining physician, is within a range of ±V_(th) associated withmaximum gradation levels of the gradation scale in which a low-velocityband of tissue motion signals is enhanced, pixels rendering velocitiesexceeding the velocity thresholds ±V_(th) are blanked automatically.Thus, the same effect as the one of the second embodiment is exerted.Even when the value of the scale conversion factor K is modified,blanking is executed on a constant basis.

In this embodiment, however, velocity display codes CD_(ν) succeedingthe velocity display codes representing velocities ±V_(MAX) do not haveany progressive change. When an examining physician designates valuesexceeding the ±V_(MAX) values as the thresholds ±V_(th), the fact isreported to the examining physician but blanking is not enabled. Anexamining physician need not pay special attention to what ±V_(MAX)values are set for low-velocity band enhancement but can designate anyvalues as the thresholds ±V_(th). Thus, operation is easy.

The capability of the blanking unit 125 may, as shown in FIG. 21, begiven to the DSC 130. In this case, the code threshold signal S_(CDth)and other control signals S_(un) and S_(con) are fed to the DSC 130. TheDSC 130 blanks velocity display codes CD_(ν) with respect to a codethreshold CD_(th) associated with a velocity threshold V_(th) in thesame manner as that described previously, and superposes image datacontaining tissue motion information on B-mode data. Thus, anappropriate velocity threshold V_(th) (CD_(th)) can be set for alow-velocity band indicating velocities that are represented withvelocity display codes CD_(ν) having a progressive change. The sameblanking effect as that in the third embodiment can be exerted.

Fourth Embodiment

In the aforesaid second and third embodiments, thresholds for blankingcan be set irrespectively of a velocity conversion scale for use inlow-velocity band enhancement. The thresholds (that is, blanking bands)can be determined at the same time of setting a velocity conversionscale. Subsequent embodiments provide diagnostic ultrasound systems inwhich this idea is implemented.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 22 to 24.

A diagnostic ultrasound system shown in FIG. 22 has the aforesaidvelocity arithmetic unit 114b. The CPU 1140 in the velocity arithmeticunit 114b executes the sequence shown in FIG. 23. Only the factor signalS_(K) representing a factor for use in low-velocity band enhancement isfed from the blanking control unit 121.

In FIG. 23, the CPU 1140 in the velocity arithmetic unit 114b executesthe processing of steps 300 and 301 (corresponding to steps 202 and 203in FIG. 12), and then computes code thresholds ±CD_(ν(MAX)) equivalentto maximum highest gradation levels provided by a velocity conversionscale (See lines a to c in FIG. 24) at step 302. Thereafter, theprocessing of steps 303 and 304 (corresponding to steps 204 and 205 inFIG. 12) is executed. According to the sequence shown in FIG. 23, assoon as an argument θ is specified at step 304, the processing of steps305 and 306 (corresponding to steps 208 and 209 in FIG. 12) is executed.The CPU 1140 then passes control to step 307, and uses the codethresholds ±CD_(ν) _((MAX)) to determine whether the absolute value of avelocity display code CD_(ν) is larger than the CD_(ν(MAX)) value.

The determination is made on the assumption that tissue motion signalsindicating velocities exceeding those associated with maximum gradationlevels are blanked. Depending on the values of maximum gradation levelsprovided by a velocity conversion scale that has been weighted by the Kvalue, a velocity threshold value V_(th) for blanking is specifiedautomatically. In short, when a velocity conversion scale forlow-velocity band enhancement is produced, velocity thresholds aredetermined at the same time. For example, in the example shown in FIG.24, when a velocity conversion scale a whose scale conversion factor Kis set to a K₁ value (larger than 1) is employed, velocity thresholds±V_(th-1) are adopted. When a velocity conversion scale b whose scaleconversion factor K is set to a K₂ value (larger than K₁) is employed,velocity thresholds ±V_(th-2) are adopted. When a velocity conversionscale c whose scale conversion factor K is set to a K₃ value (largerthan K₂) is employed, velocity thresholds ±V_(th-3) are adopted.

If the result of the determination made at step 307 is in theaffirmative or if ″CD_(ν)|<CD_(ν(MAx)) is established, control is passedto step 309. The velocity display code CD_(ν) whose value remainsunchanged is supplied to the DSC 115. If the result of the determinationis in the negative or if |CD_(ν)|≧CD_(ν(MAX)) is established, acalculated velocity display code CD_(ν) is equivalent to a maximumgradation level of a brightness of red or blue. In this case, the valueof the velocity display code CD_(ν) is forcibly set to that of a blankcode at step 308. The velocity display code CD_(ν) having undergoneblanking is supplied to the DSC 115 at step 309. As a result, forexample, when the ±CD_(ν(MAx)) values are ±128, as far as a velocitydisplay code CD_(ν) has a value ranging between ±127, blanking isdisabled. When the velocity display code CD_(ν) has a value rangingbetween ±128, blanking is enabled. This characteristic is, as shown inFIG. 24, plotted as a line that falls from points indicating velocitydisplay codes ±CD_(ν(MAX)) equivalent to maximum gradation levels to apoint indicating a velocity display code CD_(ν) having a value 0.

The CPU 1140 then executes the processing of steps 310 to 312 in thesame manner as steps 211 to 21 3 in FIG. 12.

Owing to the aforesaid blanking, any of velocity conversion scales a toc for enhancement of a low-velocity band of tissue motion signals can beselected freely. Pixels rendering velocities that exceed a velocitythreshold value V_(th) determined concurrently with a velocityconversion scale a (b, or c) are blanked automatically, and a backgroundimage appears in place of the pixels.

As mentioned above, this embodiment can enjoy the advantages of theaforesaid low-velocity band enhancement and blanking. This embodimentalso has the advantage that an examining physician should enter thescale conversion factor K alone using the input unit 122.

Thresholds for blanking is set to maximum gradation levels equivalent tocodes ±CD_(ν(MAX)). Alternatively, the thresholds may be set to codeshaving a lower value than the codes ±CD_(ν(MAX)), if necessary. Even inthis case, velocity thresholds are automatically determined concurrentlywith the codes. Only color pixels rendering velocities exceeding thevelocity thresholds are blanked.

Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described inconjunction with FIGS. 25 and 26.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, a discrete blanking unit 131 isinterposed between the tissue motion analyzer 114 and DSC 115 similarlyto that in FIG. 16. A CPU (not shown) incorporated in the blanking unit1 31 executes the sequence including steps shown in FIG. 26. Theblanking control unit 1 21 sends the threshold signal SCD_(th)representing a code threshold value CD_(th) to the blanking unit 131.

The blanking unit 131 reads the code threshold signal SCD_(th) as shownin FIG. 26 and sets code thresholds CD_(th) (similarly to those in theprevious embodiment, ±CD_(ν(MAx))) (steps 320 and 321). Thereafter, acomputed velocity display code CD_(ν) is read, and it is determinedwhether |CD_(ν)|<CD_(th) is established (steps 323 and 324). When|CD_(ν)|=CD_(th) is established, blanking is enabled (step 325).

When a velocity range enabling blanking is to be specified at the sametime of production of a velocity conversion scale, even after a velocitydisplay code representing a velocity dependent on an average Dopplershift has been computed, the velocity range can be specified merely bysetting code thresholds appropriately. Thus, the procedure is simple.Nevertheless, the same effect as that described in conjunction with FIG.24 can be exerted.

In this embodiment, the code thresholds S_(CDth) may be computed by thevelocity arithmetic unit 114b and then fed to the blanking unit 131.

The DSC 115 belonging to the display system may have the capability ofthe aforesaid blanking unit 131 (See FIG. 21. In this case, the controlsignal S_(un) indicating whether thresholds can be set or not need notbe issued.)

In the aforesaid second to fifth embodiments and their variants, thevelocity display codes CD_(ν) are expressed as gradation levels ofbrightnesses (luminances) of red and blue used to distinguish betweentissue motion directions. Alternatively, the velocity display codesCD_(ν) may be expressed as gradation levels of hues.

For the sake of completeness it should be mentioned that the embodimentexamples shown above are not definitive lists of possible embodiments.The expert will appreciate that it is possible to combine the variousconstruction details or to supplement or modify them by measures knownfrom the prior art without departing from the basic inventiveprinciples.

What is claimed is:
 1. A diagnostic ultrasound system for displaying acolor image of a motion of a tissue contained on a subject's tomographicplane, comprising: means for scanning an ultrasonic pulse signal alongthe tomographic plane so as to acquire an electrical echo signalcorresponding to an ultrasonic signal reflected from the tomographicplane; means for extracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal, saidDoppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; meansfor calculating velocity data concerning the motion of the tissue forrespective sample points on the tomographic plane on the basis of theDoppler signal; means for setting a scale along which each of thevelocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of the Dopplersignal is assigned to each gradation data for color display, saidmeasurable band of frequencies being limited by a pulse repetitionfrequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a given low-velocity bandof the measurable frequency band being enhanced in the gradation datathan a remaining velocity band of the measurable band; means forconverting the velocity data into the gradation data according to thescale; and means for displaying the color image using the gradation dataprovided by the velocity converting means.
 2. The diagnostic ultrasoundsystem according to claim 1, wherein said extracting means comprises alow-pass filter for selectively extracting the Doppler signal.
 3. Thediagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 2, wherein said scale isnon-linear in a ratio between changes in the velocity data and changesin the gradation data.
 4. The diagnostic ultrasound system according toclaim 3, wherein said ratio in the given low-velocity band is higherthan said ratio in the remaining velocity band.
 5. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 4, wherein said specifiedlow-velocity band is any of −fr/8≦fd≦fr/8, −fr/12≦fd≦fr/12, and−fr/16≦fd≦fr/16, where fr represents the pulse repetition frequency ofthe ultrasonic pulse signal and fd represents a Doppler shift frequency.6. The diagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 4, wherein saidspecified low-velocity band is assigned to all of the gradation data andsaid remaining velocity band is assigned to maximum values of thegradation data.
 7. The diagnostic ultrasound system according to claim6, wherein said ratio for said specified low-velocity band is linearlychanged.
 8. The diagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 6,wherein a scale portion of said scale in the specified low-velocity bandis changed in a bent line divided into two line segments, one of saidtwo line segments having higher in the ratio being assigned to a lowerside on a axis representing the velocity data.
 9. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said gradation dataconsist of a plurality of color code data representing changes in eitherone of color brightness and hue, said changes expressing degrees of thevelocity data in each direction of the motion of the tissue to theultrasonic pulse signal.
 10. The diagnostic ultrasound system accordingto claim 9, wherein at least maximum data of said color code data isdiscontinuous in gradation levels from a series of remaining data ofsaid color code data.
 11. The diagnostic ultrasound system according toclaim 10, wherein said extracting means comprises a low-pass filter forselectively extracting the Doppler signal.
 12. The diagnostic ultrasoundsystem according to claim 11, wherein said scale is non-linear in aratio between changes in the velocity data and changes in the gradationdata.
 13. The diagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 12,wherein said ratio in the given low-velocity band is higher than saidratio in the remaining velocity band.
 14. A diagnostic ultrasound systemfor displaying a color image of a motion of a tissue contained on asubject's tomographic plane, said color image being superposed on aB-mode tomographic image of the subject's tomographic plane, said systemcomprising: means for scanning an ultrasonic pulse signal along thetomographic plane to acquire an electrical echo signal corresponding toa reflected ultrasonic signal from the tomographic plane; means forextracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal, said Doppler signalbeing Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; means for calculatingvelocity data concerning the motion of the tissue for respective samplepoints on the tomographic plane on the basis of the Doppler signal;means for forming data of the B-mode tomographic image on the basis ofthe echo signal; means for blanking the velocity data at every samplepoint when each of the velocity data exceeds a specified threshold; andmeans for displaying the color image by coloring the velocity data andby superimposing the velocity data subjected to blanking by the blankingmeans on the data of the B-mode tomographic image.
 15. A diagnosticultrasound system for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissuecontained on a subject's tomographic plane, said color image beingsuperposed on a B-mode tomographic image of the subject's tomographicplane, said system comprising: means for scanning an ultrasonic pulsesignal along the tomographic plane to acquire an electrical echo signalcorresponding to a reflected ultrasonic signal from the tomographicplane; means for extracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal, saidDoppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; meansfor calculating velocity data concerning the motion of the tissue forrespective sample points on the tomographic plane on the basis of theDoppler signal; means for forming data of the B-mode tomographic imageon the basis of the echo signal; means for setting a scale along whicheach of the velocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of theDoppler signal is assigned to each gradation data for color display,said measurable band of frequencies being limited by a pulse repetitionfrequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a given low-velocity bandof the measurable frequency band being enhanced in the gradation datathan a remaining velocity band of the measurable band; means forconverting the velocity data into the gradation data according to thescale; means for blanking either one of the converted gradation data andthe calculated velocity data at every sample point when each of saideither one exceeds a specified threshold; and means for displaying thecolor image by coloring the velocity data and by superimposing thevelocity data subjected to blanking by the blanking means on the data ofthe B-mode tomographic image.
 16. The diagnostic ultrasound systemaccording to claim 15, wherein said scale setting means is a means thatsets the scale in which a ratio of changes in the gradation data tochanges in the Doppler frequency is higher than a corresponding ratiofor analysis of fluid motion within the subject and the velocity datalarger than a reference velocity data corresponding to maximums of thegradation data are all assigned to the maximums.
 17. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 16, wherein said gradation dataconsists of a plurality of code data representing brightnesses of aspecified color for every direction of the motion of the tissue to theultrasonic pulse signal.
 18. The diagnostic ultrasound system accordingto claim 16, wherein said gradation consists of a plurality of code datarepresenting hues of a specified color for every direction of the motionof the tissue to the ultrasonic pulse signal.
 19. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 16, further comprising means forsetting the threshold independently of the scale.
 20. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 19, wherein said either one is thevelocity data calculated by the velocity calculating means.
 21. Thediagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 20, wherein saidvelocity data calculating means comprises means for analyzing frequencycomponents of the Doppler signal, means for computing the velocity dataat each of the sample points on the basis of results analyzed by theanalyzing means and wherein said velocity data computing means, saidvelocity data converting means and said data blanking means areincorporated into a single unit.
 22. The diagnostic ultrasound systemaccording to claim 20, wherein said specified threshold consists ofvalues of the velocity data, said values corresponding to maximums ofthe gradation data defined by the scale.
 23. The diagnostic ultrasoundsystem according to claim 19, wherein said either one is the gradationdata converted by the velocity data converting means and wherein saidthreshold setting means includes a member for setting a gradation datathreshold lower than maximums of the gradation data.
 24. The diagnosticultrasound system according to claim 23, wherein said data blankingmeans is incorporated into an independent unit of at least the velocitydata calculating means and the color image displaying means.
 25. Thediagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 23, wherein said colorimage displaying means has a digital scan converter for superimposingthe velocity data on the data of the B-mode tomographic image pixel bypixel, said digital scan converter including the data blanking means.26. The diagnostic ultrasound system according to claim 16, wherein saidscale setting means is a means that automatically sets the threshold inconnection with setting the scale.
 27. The diagnostic ultrasound systemaccording to claim 26, wherein said either one is the gradation dataconverted by the velocity data converting means.
 28. A diagnosticultrasound system for displaying a color image of a motion of a tissueof a subject's tomographic plane, comprising: means for scanning anultrasonic pulse signal along the tomographic plane so as to acquire anelectrical echo signal corresponding to an ultrasonic signal reflectedfrom the tomographic plane; means for extracting a Doppler signal fromthe echo signal, said Doppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motionof the tissue; means for calculating velocity data concerning the motionof the tissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane onthe basis of the Doppler signal; means for setting a scale along whicheach of the velocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of theDoppler signal is assigned to each gradation data for color display, agiven low-velocity band of the measurable frequency band being enhancedin the gradation data compared to a remaining velocity band of themeasurable band; means for converting the velocity data into thegradation data according to the scale; and means for displaying thecolor image using the gradation data provided by the velocity convertingmeans.
 29. A diagnostic ultrasound system for displaying a color imageof a motion of a tissue contained on a subject's tomographic plane,comprising: means for scanning an ultrasonic pulse signal along thetomographic plane so as to acquire an electrical echo signalcorresponding to an ultrasonic signal reflected from the tomographicplane; means for extracting a Doppler signal from the echo signal, saidDoppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motion of the tissue; meansfor calculating velocity data concerning the motion of the tissue forrespective sample points on the tomographic plane on the basis of theDoppler signal; means for setting a scale along which each of thevelocity data over a measurable band of frequencies of the Dopplersignal is assigned to each gradation data for color display, saidmeasurable band of frequencies being limited by a pulse repetitionfrequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a given low-velocity bandof the measurable frequency band being enhanced in the gradation datacompared to a remaining velocity band of the measurable band; means forconverting the velocity data into the gradation data according to thescale; and means for displaying the color image using the gradation dataprovided by the velocity converting means.
 30. The diagnostic ultrasoundsystem according to claim 6, wherein a scale portion of said scale inthe specified low-velocity band is changed in a bent line divided intotwo line segments, the one of said line segments having lower absoluteDoppler shift frequencies being enhanced in the gradation data.
 31. Adiagnostic ultrasound system for displaying a color image of a motion ofa tissue contained on a subject's tomographic plane, said color imagebeing superposed on a B-mode tomographic image of the subject'stomographic plane, said system comprising: means for scanning anultrasonic pulse signal along the tomographic plane to acquire anelectrical echo signal corresponding to a reflected ultrasonic signalfrom the tomographic plane; means for extracting a Doppler signal fromthe echo signal, said Doppler signal being Doppler-shifted by the motionof the tissue; means for calculating velocity data concerning the motionof the tissue for respective sample points on the tomographic plane onthe basis of the Doppler signal; means for forming data of the B-modetomographic image on the basis of the echo signal; means for setting ascale along which each of the velocity data over a measurable band offrequencies of the Doppler signal is assigned to each gradation data forcolor display, said measurable band of frequencies being limited by apulse repetition frequency of the ultrasonic pulse signal and a givenlow-velocity band of the measurable frequency band being enhanced in thegradation data compared to a remaining velocity band of the measurableband; means for converting the velocity data into the gradation dataaccording to the scale; means for blanking either one of the convertedgradation data and the calculated velocity data at every sample pointwhen each of said either one exceeds a specified threshold; and meansfor displaying the color image by coloring the velocity data and bysuperimposing the velocity data subjected to blanking by the blankingmeans on the data of the B-mode tomographic image.